Thanks Wendy

It came on Monday. Can't type, must keep reading!

Bumble Bees and Bruises

Look what Juddah found in the backyard! A bumble bee! The bee was just dead, laying right in the grass. Juddah was very concerned for this big bee.


We put the bee into a little cup so we could look at it closely. We were surprised at how furry the bee was. After we were done looking at the bee we put it in our compost pile so nobody would step on it. Someone told me bees can sting even when they are dead.


The other night, while at the park, Zion was acting very independent. He would say "I need to Ruuuunnn!" and would take off down the field. Finally I called to him "Zion come back and play with Mom and Juddah, or we have to go home." So Zion came running back to us at full speed. The only problem was he wasn't watching where he was going, and ran right into bar that was head height. He fell flat on hit back with a big thud. He cried a cried. I felt so bad for the wild little guy. Just goes to show, you should always play by mom, and not wander off! As we walked home he kept saying "I knocked myself out mom. I knocked myself out right here."


When we got home he had a bruise starting to show up on his forehead. It didn't show up in these pictures, but I thought it was funny how happy he was to have his picture taken, even right after he "knocked himself out."

Sewing

I "fixed" my sewing machine the other day. Ok, I only thought it was broken. The piece that holds the needle in place fell out one day when I was sewing about two months ago. I thought maybe the sewing maching gods were trying to tell me something because I could not for the life of me figure out how to re-attatch the needle holder thing. Two days ago, I was struck with an idea out of the blue, and was able to repair my machine. Since it was fixed I started day dreaming, and rearraagning furniture in my head to create the perfect sewing room set up. I moved our entry table to hold up the TV, the TV table to be my material cutting station, took books off the bookshelf and unpacked material onto them. Perfect, everything has a place, easy to locate corduroy, or prints, or solids. My dream come true. I have started a few projects, and my skills are a little rusty (not that I was such an expert before.)

I sew mainly patchwork, hippy type clothes, so I need a variety of colors and fabrics in just one piece of clothing. It makes a huge, gigantic mess. In previous sewing spurts of mine, I have used the dining room table as my fabric staging area, and then had to clean it up for every meal and art project. Loosing many tiny, but vital pieces of fabric in the process. I am so thankful to have this extra table, and extra room to sew in. I don't have any where in mind that I am going to be selling clothes like this, but maybe something will pop up; a farmers market, or store, or maybe I will figure out how to make a web-site. I just like having a creative outlet that has nothing to do with being a mom! Oh, did I say that out loud?


A half finished tank top with a flower applique. It will be reversable when it is finished.


My fabric table, what a wonderful mess!


My machines all set up and ready to rock, with the maaterial stacks in the background. Sweetness!

Garden Gloves

Juddah and Zion just wanted to say Thanks to Grandma Roberts for the coolest gloves ever. And I wanted to say thanks for getting the boys their own garden gloves because, now I can use mine, and not have to wrestle Zion for them. It is not a pretty sight when a mom has to throw a tantrum; "Uh, not fair. They are my gloves, I get to use them now, waaa"



Put your gloves up

Also, Thanks Cousin Kate, for the note. Juddah felt pretty cool getting a letter from his cool older cousin.

Just a Few Random Things

"It's too scary" I heard Zion saying the other night. He was crying, not the fake I-want-mom-to-hold-me-all-night kind of cry. So I went to investigate. Zion was curled up into a ball, sobbing. When I asked him what he was so afraid of, he said "the shadows on the wall, mom, are too scary. And the helicopter is too scary." After sitting in the boys room for a few minutes, I realized that when a car drove by, the lights would move across the top of the wall. But the scary helicopter? I have no clue. He also kept talking about the monsters in his room. I don't know what to do about this "too scary" business. I sit with them in their room until they are almost asleep, they have a night light and a fan on all night.

****
I finally have flowers growing in my yard. Like I have mentioned before, I started everything from seed, so if you compare my flowers to my neighbors (who bought pre-grown plants for their yard, humph) then my flowers are "late bloomers." It has been fun to see bright blossoms everywhere, and even pick some.

Speaking of picking, I have been harvesting lots if basil and oregano. We have enjoyed them fresh in spaghetti and lasagna. But the plants are growing so rapidly, we can't eat all that we have. I have been drying the fragrant leaves. I hope I can chop them up, and enjoy fresh herbs later. Any tips on how to preserve flavor?

Yesterday as I was dumping my compost, my neighbor popped his head over the fence, (he surprised me, I let out a little yelp.) He commented on how much bigger my tomato and pepper plants are than his. Then he added "But I only used organic matter in my garden so that is probably why." To which I responded "Oh, I haven't put anything on my garden at all. Hmm, funny." I know I sound like a meany, but he is so nosy and exhausting, it felt good.

*****
Juddah and Zion have colds. I thought Zion was coming up to me to give me a hugs. Wrong. He was wiping his nose on me. Thanks Zion. Or as he proudly calls himself "Ziggy-Zoney." Thanks Juddah for the great nickname!

Jewelie's Wedding

Sarah and I carpooled down to Jewelies Wedding. Sarah's Volvo wagon was packed full of camping gear, kids, snacks, toys, movies, and music. We really couldn't have fit anything else in. It was a long drive, but the kids did great. Iris and Juddah tried to claim different songs and words as their "own property," exclaiming "No don't sing it. It is my SONG!"


Here comes the Bride. Jewelie and her daughter Emmerichgray (sp) right before the ceremony.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Shultz


Zion and Iris in the tent. I shared my tent with Sarah and Iris. It was a little crazy getting the kids to go to bed, but in the end, the Moms won!


Zion and Wyatt, Roses son, loading up the gear, and getting ready to head home. I felt like we were so lucky it didn't rain he day of the wedding, but the next morning it was pouring rain.


Juddah, Iris, and Zion with is head in a backpack. There was a great playground for the kids to play on. It was in a very convenient location, so we were able to swing, and enjoy friends and family all at once!

Yesterday I was exhausted, but it was worth it! Jewelie looked beautiful. It was fun to see her mom, sisters, and kids. And have I mentioned the food? Jewelie and her sisters made all the food. Puerto Rican chicken and rice, avocado salad, cheeses, fruits, salads, steak and chicken kabobs, and oh my, two amazing cakes. Mmm, I am still dreaming of cake! All the happiness in the world to the newlyweds!

Ode to Onions

Sorry Mom, I love onions! I grew up, never trying onions, but taking my moms word, that they were a flavor and food less than desirable. When I did finally try foods containing onions, I actually enjoyed them. My love of onions has only grown. They are included in just about everything I make. And being that I not a very creative culinary artist, chopping onions and adding them to dishes always makes me feel like a real grown up cook. Shoot, I should host my own Food Network show!



Onion Facts:
The best way to keep onions from sprouting is to put them in a paper sack in your fridge. Tried and true, it has kept my onions fresh for months!
The word "onion comes from the Latin word "unio" meaning single. Because unlike its cousin, garlic, an onion plant produces only one single bulb.
Onions contain high levels of Vitamin C, chromium, numerous flavinoids, and quercitin.
Onions help maintain healthy bones.
Onions contain Allium, a sulfur containg element, and that is why it has such a strong pungent smell.
Sweet onions, like the walla walla, or the vidalia, don't make your eyes water, only hot onions make you cry!




The facts go on and on about how wonderful onions are, but the real reason I am writing about onions today is because while grocery shopping I saw a bag of these, Walla Walla Sweets! When we lived in Oregon, my Dad would bring home boxes of these onions from farmers he knew. I can remember him trying to get them slipped into foods, but no one was very excited. I remember turning up my nose, and thinking "who cares what kind of Onions they are, I still don't like them!" I also remember my niece Hannah setting up a wheel barrow and sign on the corner, and selling onions all summer. I think she sold every onion my dad brought home, which was a good thing, other wise they would have gone to waste.
I am trying to make up for my lost onion eating time! Sorry Dad that I never took your word, and just tried an onion before the age of 19! But you were right, Walla Walla Sweet Onions are amazing, and I know this bag won't last us long!